Centrifugal coil clutch



Oct. 23, 1951 E, SELANDER 2,572,528

CENTRIIUGAL COIL CLUTCH Filed NOV. 18, 1947 I zzz VT /f/ INVENTOR. JMwecfm@ Wbl Patented Oct. 23, 1 951 UNITED STATES PATENToFl-lcsCENTR-IFUGAL COIL CLUTCH Johan Emil Selander, Goteborg, SwedenApplication November 18, 1947, Serial No. 786,593 In Sweden December 6,1946 coupling with a smooth and shock-free function which in coactionwith other couplings of 'same type and with speed transmittinggears'will automatically and successively transmit different speedrevolutions to a driven axle.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists of a coupling with lamels of a certainconstruction being able to expand and thereby press against each otherto increase the friction.

The invention Will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawing, showing the preferred form of construction and in which:

- Fig. I is a cross sectional view along the section line I in Fig. II;

Fig. II is a longitudinal section of a coupling aggregate;

Fig. III is a cross sectional view along the section line III in Fig.II;

Fig. 1V is a side view of a spiral spring lamel; and

Fig. V a plan view of a spring ring lamel in a stretched condition, in agreater scale.

The coupling is of friction type and built up in accordance with thelamel principle with lamels of a special construction. Referring at rstto the coupling A per se, shown in the left portion of a speedtransmission aggregate in Fig. II, this coupling consists of the twocoupling halves 3 and 4 and constitutes a part of the said totalaggregate which is adapted to transmit different speed revolutions froma driving axle l to an outgoing driven axle 2.

Said coupling A has a number of lamels 8 attached to the coupling half 3and lying between lamels 9 attached to the coupling half 4. Each lamel 8consists in the exemplied embodiment of a spiral spring, theconstruction of which is shown in Fig. IV, and each lamel 9 consists ofa split spring ring, shown in stretched position in Fig. V. The spiralspring 8 has a shoulder I3 near the one end, by which shoulder thespiral spring is held in a recess of the coupling half 3, so that thespiral spring is free to expand radially, and the spring ring 9 has inthe same way an extension I4 at its one end in the cross directionthereof, by which the spring ring is held 2 Claims. (Cl. 1922-105) vfree-wheel spring 20.

2 in a recess of the coupling half 4,

ize the centrifugal stresses and prevent `vibrations the spring ring ispartly cut up longitudinally as seen in Fig. V, so that the spring ringwill in ring shape have two diametrally positioned end -spaces of likevolume. Between the hub of the coupling half 3 and the innermost springring free-lying Weights IB are inserted, guided for instance'in radialchannels in the side vof said couplinghalf,`

and arranged to press against the innermost spring ring by centrifugalforce, and the coupling half 4 has an outer ring ange taking up theradial press.

In the speed transmitting aggregate exemplied in the drawing in Fig. II,three lamel couplings A, B, and C of the same type are arranged to workin combination with two planetary gears D and E. This aggregate isadapted for three different speed transmissions. As mentioned above thecoupling A consists of the coupling halves 3 and 4, the coupling half 3being attached to the driving axle l. The coupling B consists of thecoupling halves 4ar and 5, and the coupling C' of the coupling halves 6and 1. The coupling half 4a is formed out vof the backside portion ofthe coupling half 4. This coupling half is connected to the sun Wheel I5of the planetary gear D, the planet wheels l2 of which being freegoingon axle pins which are xed to the coupling' han s.

Of the planetary gear D, consisting of the sunl Wheel l5, the planetwheels l2 and the outer ring Wheel I6, the latter is connected to thecoupling ring wheel l1 of the other planetary gear E, the planet wheelsI8 of which revolve freely on axle pins fixed to the coupling half l,whichl coupling half is connected to the outgoing driven axle 2. The sunWheel I9 of the gear E is a freegoing wheel prevented from back-turningby a All the lamel couplings A, B and C have free-lying weightsdesignated l0 for the coupling A. The Weights for the coupling A areheavier than the weights for the coupling B, and the latter weights areheavier than the weights for the coupling C. Instead of differentweights the couplings A, B, and C can be provided with springs ofdiierent strength.

Arranged in such a Way in the speed transmitting aggregate the lamelcouplings A, B and C will automatically and successively be broughtenabling the same also to expand radially. In order to equali Patent 3into action at an increasing speed of the driving axle I. At a certainspeed revolution 11.1 the coupling A will couple the coupling halves 3and 4 together, and the speed will be transmitted from the driving axleI through the wheels 3, 4, I5, I2, 6, I8 and 1 to the driven axle 2,which may receive for instance the speed revolution Ni.

When the speed revolution of the driving axle I is increased to 'n2 fthecoupling B 'also will be 'active and couple the Y'coupling -halves 4aand `5 together, so that the speed will be transmitted through theWheels 3, 4, I5, 4a, 5, I6, I2, 6, I8 and 'I from the driving axle I tothe driven axle 2,- which `now may receive the speed revolution N2. Asmaybe understood the planet wheels I2 will not in lthis case revolve ontheir axle pins, so that the driving axle I, and the wheels 3, 4, 5 and6 are actu` ally coupled rigidly together and have the same revolutionspeed. When now the speed revolu tion of the driving axle will furtherincrease tol na thecoupling C also will be active, coupling thecouplingVhalves E and 'I together with the result that a direct-rigid couplingbetween the drivingl axle I and -the driven axle 2 is producedf easilyunderstood the number Y'of the lamel couplings and planetary gears isOptional. -I-ty is essential, however, that Vif two or more lamelcouplings are coacting they are combined with planetary gears. If thespeed transmission yaggregate shall `transmit only two different speedrevolutions it is enough to construct the -aggre` gate with thecouplings A `and B with the :planetary gear D, in which case the wheel 6has to be attached vto the axle 2. VIf this aggregate is designated X,and the aggregate described above for three diierent transmission speedsis designated Y, one can by diierent lcombinations of X, -X vor X, Y orY, Y obtain every number of different speed revolutions.

While l have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying lmy invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification, Without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Vl-I'av'ing thus described my vinvention What claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters i. A friction clutch comprising a driving shaft; adriven shalt'; at least one .pair of cooperating clutch members, one ofsaid clutch members being operatively connected to said driving shaftand the other of said members being operatively connected to said drivenshaft; an outer axial ange provided on said driven Iclutch member;atleast one pair lof .generally cylindrical, radially expansible springmembers yarranged ,inwardly 'of said Harige so as to becomef-rictionally intera emgaged upon radial expansion at a predeter minedspeed of said driving shaft; one of said spring members comprising acoil spr-ing and the other of said-spring members comprising a spiitring-,j said coil spring being secured by one of-its 4 y axial end facesto a respective adjacent portion of said driving clutch member andhaving its other end freely disposed in order to permit free expansionof said entire spring; said split ring spring being secured to arespective adjacent portion of the driven clutch member by one of itsaxial end faces and having its other end free in order to permit freeexpansion of said entire split ring; fsaid split ring comprising acentral portion -ofnxed width and aparr d'f reduced, symmetricallyoverlapping terminal portions.

2. A friction clutch comprising a driving shaft; a 'driven shaft; atleast one pair of cooperating clutch members, one of said clutch membersdelin'in'g airadial wall portion therein and being operativelyconnectedto said driving shaft and the other of said members being operativelyconnected to said driven shaft; an outer axial flange provided on saiddriven clutch member; at least one pair of generally cylindrical,radially expansible spring members arranged inward-ly bf said flange Vsoas to :bec'rne frictionally inter-1 engaged upon radial expansion at a=predeter= mined speed of said driving shaft; one of said spring membersvcomprising la fcoil :spring and 'the other of said spring lrrembe'rs.comprising a split ring; said coil spring being secured by "one f axialend faces to said radial wall fp'oition pf said driving clutch memberand having its other end freely Vdisposed in order to permit freevexpansion of said entire spring.; said split ring spring being securedto a respective adjacent ,portion 'of the driven clutch member by one ofits axial end faces and having its other end free in order to permitfree expansion of said entire l`split ring; said split ring comprising-a central portie-i1 vof xed width and a pair lof reduced, symmetricallyoverlapping terminal portions.

JOHAN rEMIL -SELANDER- RRNCES CIT-ED The following references Iare "ofrebord in fthe le of this patent:

N'TD STATES PATE' m "N'I' S

